'City of a Thousand': Ep. 1 Downtown Phoenix's tent city explodes at alarming rate

For part one of this four-part series, FOX 10's Justin Lum gives us an in-depth look within a pocket of streets and sidewalks in downtown Phoenix as the homeless crisis exploded with more than a thousand unsheltered people living on the streets in this area known as "the zone."
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Ep. 2: • 'City of a Thousand': ...
Ep. 3: • 'City of a Thousand': ...
Ep. 4: • 'City of a Thousand': ...
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[@ldbelanger5385]

As the man who was interviewed said- homelessness isn’t the issue it’s the side effect. If billions have been spent it’s time to find where did it go and hold people responsible.

[@douglashoward9616]

It went to the politicians.

[@mgtowski395]

Stay safe.

[@KobatheASMRbiker]

Its even worse when that money is spent on spikes near stores to make sure the homeless doesn't camp there. Or poles and even robots that shoo away them. Its sad...

[@SandCrabNews]

"NGO" Non-government Organization, churches, charities, etc.

[@abrahamclintona3596]

It’s a shared responsibility. Capitalism is very unforgiving and as Americans we’ve relied on that it would always be on our side. At some point we traded self determination for a system that would take care of us for example: “a stable job at the Ford factory in Detroit” as well as trade unions. We got comfortable and believed that these systems would always be there and then they fail tons of specialists are out of a good paying jobs and instead of finding a way out these specialists protest and not work till those jobs come back and pay them high wages instead of finding a less paying job. You know who doesn’t care about the economy? The Amish because they’ve always relied on themselves. We do this to ourselves because of pride, arrogance and entitlement including myself. I’m almost 40 I have a bit of savings a stable job and a decent car. Living with siblings doing ok but if I lost my job or health I’d be two months away from being broke again because of my lifestyle. I do know that we need a likeminded community that cares for each other.

[@spiveydurango8391]

The homeless will always exist. The issue of skyrocketing rent is a real issue and needs to be curtailed. The cost of living should not mean you work 12 hour days just so you can pay rent , the same rent that is now close to 50 percent more than what it was 2 years ago. My rent went up about 25% from what it was a year ago. That type of increase is criminal.

[@smoochydatrhino5793]

Yes it is ridiculous like people are literally working hard just to pay rent no money to care for themselves or nothing extra for them at. Can't even save money for vacations or nothing. So guess what crime is going up people need want help not a handout but a way out. Mean while the rich get richer oh but guess what it won't safe when the homeless trickles up your driveway.

[@sarbantz]

Fentanyl 💊, popular blues. Blues rule.

[@paradoxstudios6639]

@@sarbantz Blues Clues ?

[@skipperclinton1087]

Uhhh, there are plenty of people living on the streets because having to pay rent & work would mean they'd have to cut back on their drug and alcohol consumption, PERIOD! On top of that they can drink and do drugs in front of a cop w/o fear of getting arrested. Don't be so naive, the cops only bust people that have enough money for bail and a lawyer & community service. Work for free and we'll set you free!You bust the homeless, the establishment has to pay for shelter and food. If you haven't figured that one out yet it's time to wake up!

[@fltmike]

Thank biden🤮

[@goldnlab]

I remember driving my Ford Ranger around without AC while living in PHX. I can't imagine the heat inside one of those tents on any given day.

[@l.a.raustadt518]

So many and growing numbers all over the country. Here in Minneapolis it grows too. What we need is real world answers but what to do. I turn on my AC in my Ranger anything over 70!

[@Mountain_Valley_Sky]

Just like the Indians moved from the Salt River Valley up to the North in summer. Some, not all, of these folks, do try to move when they can. Seen several living in the national forest up outside Flagstaff in the summers. They can only legally stay up to like 14 days in same spot, & then must move, if Park Rangers do their jobs. It's terrible. Nobody is winning this fight. If these pple could actually work, the local businesses might be able to use them. Yet mental illness & drug abuse keeps them from being reliable employees. Perhaps a few can work. But most are mentally or physically impaired. It's something millions of dollars has been spent on, with little solutions shown for the money. Although O'Bidens team did give them Crack pipes & clean needles. So there is that.

[@stevomcsteve9492]

So true. Something to think about.

[@norms3913]

With the summer months just coming up

[@dfiniin6820]

So hot in Phoenix during the summer. If possible go north even about 1 hour and what a big difference in the temperature. No way would I be able to sleep in that heat.

[@Robertgriffinne]

I'm so thankful that my landlords are renting me a place to live in at a reasonable rate . Inflation is uncomfortable but i'm thankful that my job pays for my life.

[@Natalieneptune469]

You are lucky because rents are going up everywhere . Rent prices rose by 0.8% in june from a month earlier, according to the labor department it is the largest monthly gain since 1986.

[@instinctively_awesome8283]

How can the typical family with average income afford a higher rate+ more expensive home? in my area multi generational home is becoming the norm . Don’t forget to add the inflation which just this week was 9.1 on the CPI , producers index 11.3, it’s going to be a rough ride for sure.

[@PhilipMurray251]

Time will tell how this period will treat people that never save, invest, lived beyond means, paycheck to paycheck, too many kids, too big of home, keeping up with the joneses with FOMO,YOLO, paying alimony, child support, etc

[@marianparker7502]

[@Robertgriffinne]

@@marianparker7502 I raised all my rents at least 30% in the past year. You better hope your landlord doesn't catch on to reality.

[@reneegrubbs4912]

No money should be sent to other nations or other nations let in until we help our own homeless and Vets.

[@Editnamehere]

Shut your mouth and do something about it yourself. Open up your home to them.

[@creativeikem9658]

This worthless evil, scumbag joke of an administration obviously doesn't care about the country's citizens. Sad

[@oDIRECTORo]

Meh….how about both dummy?

[@couptrump748]

Bla bla bla to much fox News lately???????????????

[@hashiramasenju6058]

The problem is that spending money on our citizens gets called "socialism" and almost all Republicans will fight against it.

[@MustangMedic]

We have to open our eyes to what is happening to our society. I believe we are at a tipping point.

[@petdoctor3]

Thanks to republikkkans oligarchs

[@KN-eh2fh]

@@petdoctor3 How? please explain.

[@kenyapressley6706]

beyond the tipping point

[@jerryd1109]

We are past the tipping point. I don't believe there is anything we can do from here on out thanks to the dim wits in charge

[@jerryd1109]

@@petdoctor3 Republicans? Really? No, this has nothing to do with the Potato, the Hyena and the Drinker of the House

[@omeemodesigns215]

I work 6 days a week, 10-11 hours a day and even with splitting rent here in South Philadelphia with my sister and my dad who both work, it is hard. We’re literally one illness or injury away from losing a home. Many of us are. I pinch every penny and save everywhere I can in fear that it does happen so I have a nest egg but what life do I really live? Now I’m even more worried because gas and food prices have skyrocketed. The issue is rising rents and lack of well paying jobs. There are “Help Wanted “ signs everywhere but they’re all paying no more than $15 per hour and the average rent here is $1,200 for a small one bedroom.

[@galegrazutis964]

You ARE ABSOLUTELY thetypes of people who the welfare system was designed for How much is the country giving yo people who receive disability fir some RIDICULOUS reason such as drug abuse or anxiety 😳 How much is spent resuscitating junkies over and over. JUST BOGGLES THE MIND!

[@donniebunkerboi9975]

Go work in Canada before Trudeau build his wall

[@VeniVidiVici456]

Thank Uncle Joe Biden's administration for this hyper inflationary economy. Also, it's the cost of living in cities governed by leftist democrats.

[@nbanow9612]

Yeah not to mention most places now work you for 6 hour shifts 4 days a week to keep you under full time employment so they don’t have to give you benefits

[@MR..181]

News?

[@aarongoetz467]

Coming from a rental property owner, I've had my property for 16 years without raising the rent once and have always remained profitable, while keeping tenants happy. Communication, mutual respect, and humility are key. The rise in rent cost is fueled purely by greed. No one who can help this crisis will ever do anything to actually fix it, nor do they care about these people. The homeless don't contribute to campaigns and they can't take on new debt, and because of that they are not valued as human beings by any elected official or CEO.

[@johnlukach4091]

Thank you for being a human being that gives a shit about his/her fellow mankind not enough of you

[@boringopr4369]

Finally one owner of a apartment building being honest thank you as a homeless vet I thank you for your honesty 👍

[@thecapricorn11]

if it weren’t for rent control i’d have to move

[@jeremyanderson3819]

Yeah, we all know it's greed.

[@manager4409]

Open borders and taking in 3 million immigrants a year has a lot to do with it

[@micheleotero1516]

I would be homeless too without the help from my best friend of 20 years. We split everything. Rent food and gas and electric. Age 64 year old black woman. Airforce vet. I get a small VA check and social security check. I also work part time. She is on social security also. She is working on a master's degree. I have a bs degree in education. We good. She got my back and I have hers. Keep your head up people. God bless

[@benhodgson7570]

Positive message god bless you as well 🙏

[@DW-ut4pg]

"I have a bs degree in education. We good. "

[@kimalonzo4912]

That's what it is going to take to make it now and in the future, cooperative economics. FACTS!

[@kimalonzo4912]

@@DW-ut4pg AND?

[@ymeekins6357]

Amazing!!

[@invader_ren5974]

FINALLY YALL PUT THIS ON THE NEWS!! ITS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR YEARS!

[@ucanon2662]

Another failure by your Phoenix liberal politicians! Vote them out! They are part of the problem and not part of the solution!

[@t.g.7180]

Build Back Better 😈

[@deehoupt5276]

You guys in AZ keep voting wrong. The GOP wants to ignore homelessness, since it all started with Ronald Reagan & his policies. The VERY DEMOCRAT STATE OF COLORADO has model system that actually gets ppl mental health help, a place to stay, & a job.

[@ririlove5177]

It's the same way here in Washington State it's crazy

[@abelzoni2138]

@@deehoupt5276 Luckily no homeless in Democrat controlled Cities.

[@MyLife-og2kr]

Instead of providing for our people, our government rather send trìllions of money to other countries. What a joke our government has become.

[@Greeneggsandham123]

Medicare, medicaid, social security, disability payments, free methadone, free medial clinics. shelters, low income housing. The tax payers are doing a lot. What have you done to help yourself?

[@MyLife-og2kr]

@@Greeneggsandham123 if I didn't help myself, I wouldn't be on KZbin replying to your comment. Enough is not enough when we still have people suffering. What has war ever done to improve our lives? We are privileged beyond belief, but people in those parts of the world that we helped destroy, what have we truly done for them? What good is war when both sides lose and the only ones to win is the super elites that profit from war. You may be good with enough, I'm not. I'm a taxpayer too so are you talking about the real taxpayers?

[@devynodyssey7734]

@@Greeneggsandham123 He said government, not tax payers. Jeff Bezos didn't need the 10 billion Biden just slipped him. 10 billion in Phoenix could have opened an infant formula plant and given the state more jobs. See the difference?

[@two02ful]

USA government love war. So they spend all their nationals finances in war everywhere!

[@joeyrogers8193]

That's right

[@scootiebootie3553]

i used to live in phx, and the heat is brutal. i cannot imagine being in a tent during the day or the night. it would have to be stiffling. hard to breathe, and super dangerous. this is just awful. i know the cost of a rental is crazy. has gone thru the roof. i have a friend late 50's that worries everyday about ending up homeless due to health issues. she is terrified that if she has a flare up, and cant work she will lose her very tiny one bedroom that she pays 1,000 a month for plus utilities/ that is crazy. she is educated, and has even owed a restaurant. her life sucks, she will never be able to retire. and if she ends up on SSI, she will absolutely be homless. 700ish a month wont even get her a studio apt. much less utilities, and food. shameful, they are failing their people!

[@melvinwhite4399]

Damm and Arizona is where I wanna move to in 4 years

[@palaceofgnosis9941]

The government should put the Homeless on the indian reservations.Put the good homeless back to work and keep the rest of the homeless that cant or dont want to work on the reservation.The government is already paying for the reservations,there is free medical,free dental and most of the times free housing for indians.The reservation is pretty much a Homeless Services area.,.It was never thier land,reservations were designed to keep the indians away from normal society.The reservations were built to keep the indians away from regular Americans because they were uncivilized.

[@manager4409]

Perhaps open borders and unlimited immigration is hurting americans

[@michelemichele5204]

@@manager4409 i agree, for a million reasons. i know a girl who was dating an illegal cuban. both did a lot of drugs. he smacked her around a lot. ended up killing her. then he fled. even if he didnt return to cuba who cares. we dont even know if we knew his real name. no info on him. no way to catch him, and if they did prosecution would be next to impossible. i agree. borders closed. WE ARE FULL and FAILING OUR OWN PEOPLE!!!! closed until we catch up if that ever happens.also no more funding eveyone elses troubles and wars. we are failing our own so much. old people scared about money, working class terrified of losing a job and being homeless, should not be like this in this country! absolutely shamefull. BORDERS CLOSED! you know i am not political, i admit it, ignorance over here big time. why? cuz i cant change a nything. i see so many upset over the news, upset over elections . i mean fighting mad. i dont want that in my life, so i fight battles i can win. animal rights issues locally etc...where i can see results or fight harder to make them happen. BUT this next election, if trump runs i will be registered and will be voting YES! i am sick of political correctness where every word we say is subject to approval, i am sick of borders open and then our people suffering. so i do think Trump has some major cookoo issues (twitter etc) i think he will be the best of all evils. so sick of all this bs! btw i refuse to say african american, they are black and i am white. it is not rude it is a color, an adjective if you will. i like the name Cleveland Indians and it is not disrespectful instead i think it is honorable. all of this crap, all the tiptoeing, the border bs, being so gentle with those who dont follow the rules. heck no! TRUMP get in here and fix this crap, and stay off twitter! LOL

[@fatherof4kids]

The only people getting $700 a month on SS are people who never worked or people who hardly worked. Most of us get between $1,500 and $2000 a month. That isn't a lot but it is way more than $700 a month.

[@1979jurado]

I'm always afraid to end up on the streets. Barely making ends meet as it is. It's bad when you have to choose between life saving medication or food. It's always a fear to be homeless and have no where to go.

[@splifstar85]

Don’t be afraid! Your government will always find money to sponsor Neo nazis and terrorists.. And you.. well, who cares about you 🤷‍♂️

[@ralphtom3431]

11 billion $ to Israel every year

[@splifstar85]

@@ralphtom3431 way over $40 billion to Neo nazis and God knows how much to terrorists in Syria and Libya 🤷‍♂️

[@canema7334]

33 millions to Ukraine

[@ralphtom3431]

@@lookylook570 and who started the opioid epidemic? The jewish billionaire sackler family

[@Liberty2025]

When in the ghetto they have studio apartments, with problems they ignore, paint over, etc...NO washer, NO dryer and you pay for all utilities, pest control...with the rent being $1,242...in a place near a very busy drug hangout and shootings... Yes, housing is beyond a crisis point.

[@alostbard]

The homeless population is increasing everywhere. I travel via van a lot, and have seen a drastic increase in both large and small towns ranging from Florida to the Colorado Front Range. The increase has been slowly beating upward over the years, but recently has taken off. I hate to be the crazy guy with the tinfoil hat, but this is a major symptom of something fundamentally wrong that's going to blow up in all of our faces.

[@wildchameleon7622]

We are headed for the great depression 2.0

[@pilarq7886]

The rioting is coming from fed up food prices

[@barb7124]

Read the book of revelation.

[@wildchameleon7622]

@@barb7124 your book is fake. There's always been famine and plague. Your people have literally been saying "ThE EnD iS NeAR ReAd tHE BoOk Of ReVelaTiOn" for 1000 years

[@barb7124]

@@wildchameleon7622 its not my book, thanks

[@WelfareChrist]

I keep thinking about the heat. Imagine how unbearable those tents become during the middle of the day

[@putitback4789]

They don’t care they are high af!

[@AnAbortiveRomance]

Oh please. My father's family moved from the dust bowl to the Phoenix area in the early 1940's. Most people back then didn't even have swamp coolers.

[@WelfareChrist]

@@AnAbortiveRomance I love how whiney this comment sounds.

[@joltjolt5060]

They die.

[@palaceofgnosis9941]

The government should put the Homeless on the indian reservations.Put the good homeless back to work and keep the rest of the homeless that cant or dont want to work on the reservation.The government is already paying for the reservations,there is free medical,free dental and most of the times free housing for indians.The reservation is pretty much a Homeless Services area.,.It was never thier land,reservations were designed to keep the indians away from normal society.The reservations were built to keep the indians away from regular Americans because they were uncivilized.

[@sly13]

City of Phoenix investing 50 million. I wonder how much of that is going to consulting work and private corporations trying to "fix" the problem.

[@John_X_77]

I figure about $49.9 million or so...

[@billp4]

How do I get in on that?

[@erinmenke162]

99.9% . can become a millionaire in a nonprofit business. corporations will line their pocket's with 50 million.

[@djusmc4764]

Don’t forget 10% for the big guy

[@yehimstone5492]

Politicians pockets

[@littleonion7171]

I was born and raised here in Phoenix and I can barely afford to live in my own town. What the government and leasing management companies have done to us is criminal and they deserve to pay with their lives.

[@Yandel21ableify]

The Midwest is cheap

[@Echo81Rumple83]

That can be arranged 😈

[@glendabarton45barton48]

@@Yandel21ableify Not for much longer

[@glendabarton45barton48]

It's Uber capitalism. Real estate interests go in, flip buildings and houses, kick longtime tenants out and raise rents

[@rabidkangar00]

​@@glendabarton45barton48 Not to mention Phoenix has put evictions in a speed lane. They literally can't wait to kick people out.

[@wahmpee]

we just drove from Ohio to Phoenix to get my brother-in-law out of the ZONE. brought him home and got him into a treatment program. someone as an individual has to care about an individual. the state isn't capable of fixing this. it takes people with big hearts to fix one person at a time.

[@jcen1918]

Except other countries with strong social safety nets (e.g., Europe, Asia) have programs specifically to help rehabilitate people/treat mental illness. So government can solve it, if it's allowed to.

[@chuckbrooks7489]

@@jcen1918 how is that possible when the people in need grow exponentially? No mention of the inflation anyone working has to combat right?!?! We just pay more and hope for the best, worked real well in Portland

[@amylee9]

Houston is doing it.

[@edlee2336]

@@jcen1918 I think the quicker we realize America doesn’t care to be those countries the quicker it’ll be to resolve issues. We always compared other countries to the US but that doesn’t help anything. We need to accept that America doesn’t care about the poor and middle class then start from there.

[@charleshoang7687]

People have to take their own individual responsibility,when you are born poor it's not your fault but when you growing old you are still poor and homeless, it's your fault.

[@delciniafthomas9219]

I lived in the zone for 14 years. I'm now going on my year and 5 month sobriety, I still know of my friends and family that are still there in the zone. It took my own courage to take that step to get out of there, no one else!!!

[@danpen717]

Now immigrants

[@BullyzNBonzBBQ]

Arizona is the new California. It's gotten so bad here these past few years.

[@peni1641]

Az dumped their undesirables into Cali. We are going to return them back.

[@edwardmyers675]

Don’t vote democrat

[@texasrefugee7888]

It's every state. Think of this as the American dream reality for most people except for our billionaire oligarchs

[@julierohrer6340]

But the politicians on the news running for office feel the 1 priority is keeping out immigrants....even though they are not the ones living homeless...it is white and blacks living in these tent cities...not Latinos.

[@BullyzNBonzBBQ]

@@julierohrer6340 that is true it's so sad.

[@eeewho]

This is a direct consequence of exorbitant housing costs. Homelessness is everywhere in the U.S. and pathetic. At least in developing countries the poor typically have a roof over their head.

[@notarango448]

this is because of racism

[@notarango448]

a lot of these ppl couldn't get jobs because of race

[@happyinparadise7812]

True 👍. I spend time in Mexico. Hardly any homeless in Yucatan.

[@devynodyssey7734]

Increasing property tax increased rent. Taxing the rich isn't always the brightest solution.

[@lewislinzy3437]

The governments of those countries don't destroy the shelter poor people build like this Satan's government does. Taxes, building permits, zoning laws, etc. Make it impossible for poor people,especially those that are old and sick, to get anywhere in the USA and they keep importing more homeless people from other countries, of course, they are treated better than citizens already here. Too much government regulation by the rich establishment is the main problem, it will be the death of this country eventually.

[@TacoAnnihilatorx]

How can anyone tolerate living in a tent in Phoenix? I lived there in the early 2000s and I would sweat just going from my air conditioned house to my air conditioned car. I cant imagine how hard that has to be.

[@ericbryon]

ill keep you in my prayers.

[@undeadpriest]

I can't speak to Phoenix, but technology does help. I have multiple high powered fans which are life savers in the summer. Not much you can do during the heatwaves when its still like +28c outside at night time though, just have to tough it out. Fortunately my city does have "cooling centres" during these periods of time, which come in handy.

[@2020Dreamlife]

@@undeadpriest this guy. These are homeless people and your talking about your high powered fan. So whose buying these high powered fans for these people. And where exactly were they plugging them in??? Starbucks when they go for a latte and wifi in the morning. Wtf

[@Arizona_lilly]

There’s no choice

[@LCx829]

I’d rather be homeless in Sedona

[@JohnnysCafe_]

this is going on in every city across the US, absolutely disgraceful.

[@blauwgeel2743]

I'm glad that i live in The Netherlands and not the US. Here in The Netherlands you would never see these kind of tent cities. We only have some refugees camps in The Netherlands, but that is another story.

[@JohnnysCafe_]

@@blauwgeel2743I feel the same, I'm glad I live in Australia where there is nothing like this.

[@Jorge-mg7or]

Glad to see this problem finally getting some attention. Keep it up Justin! As a ride share driver that picks up and delivers passengers there, I see this problem and it's only getting worse. Three to four years ago the tents used to be just around 12th ave and Madison intersection, right outside of the CASS guard entrance. Now it's exploded - and exploded all over town. It's sad. I tip my hat to the CASS employees every time they get in my car. They're overwhelmed, but still trying to help. Homelessness is the result of multiple problems in our society that are not being addressed by either political party.

[@mowman7777]

It's not the job of govt.

[@Striker50_]

Doing rideshare, you see where they're allll at

[@Goobie77]

Try personal responsibility.

[@divinelycreated4him]

The government doesn’t care and only serves corporate interest groups.

[@mowman7777]

@@divinelycreated4him Is it really the government’s job?

[@Qwizitis]

I lived in Arizona for 2 years. & I can assure you that living in the streets of Arizona from April to September is attempted suicide by heat it’s so fucking hot even at night 2am 108 degrees. I hated riding in a car with no AC I would wake up sweating in my apartment it was insane

[@ucanon2662]

Another failure by your Phoenix liberal politicians! Vote them out! They are part of the problem and not part of the solution!

[@Danny451]

I started sweating just reading your comment. I'm going to turn up my air-conditioner now.

[@marsrover0]

You're right my place has a swamp cooler and even with that on at night it's still hot I can't imagine being outside.

[@t.g.7180]

Yep. Wonder where they’re gonna go when it’s over 120 degrees. They’re predicting record heat this summer

[@JeepUSMC]

Meh people do it in Iraq during the summer and it gets hotter there. No ac in a mud hut. People have become privileged and don't educate themselves on how to stay cool with out those everyday devices most take advantage of.

[@trevordoherty8343]

AZ is insane. Me and my wife are both welders and could barely afford it. I was born and raised in Phoenix and the way it has changed made us leave.

[@puertoricanboy100]

Where did you guys managed to move to? AZ with its cities. Its slowly becoming another California I fear.

[@Morena_LV]

Same in Vegas

[@nenezaze3252]

I live in Florida, the hours wages are fkn bad, now I work for my self but is hard. i try to due my best in every single job, but I got take more risk, & make som extra money in the side, selling food, or sue Uber..

[@mkaz4232]

I moved to Phoenix in 2015, bought a townhome in 2017 for 191k I can sell it for 400k now, Phoenix is screwed it will be another California if it’s not already

[@nenezaze3252]

@@puertoricanboy100 California 2.0

[@elishevahmitchell5840]

Stop kicking people out of their homes this is total wickedness raising the rent so high that they cannot pay it

[@matthewa.930]

Living in a pod in a house with 14 people: $800 dollars. Living in a tent out on the street: free. Living in a country where people still don't get it: priceless.

[@Sin526]

Pottery 👏

[@JRPetruk]

That San Francisco, not Phoenix.

[@dozergetscrafty]

Jesus. $800 is more than my house payment. Thank god i bought this place when i did. 3 beds 2 baths and a 1 bedroom apt in the garage. My MIL lives there. We live in the country with an acre. Considered Low Income but in our area we are actually making more than the median. The cost of living here is considered very low by national standards but gas prices are making things really tight.

[@thelastninja4825]

@@dozergetscrafty $800 as a house payment ? lucky you i just went to the grocery and spent 240$ on some eggs and fruits :S this country is finished

[@la7614]

Man you know how many post i see on Facebook with people looking for people to pay minimum 800-1500 for a damn room and share the house with 2 or 3 other people.

[@joanwolff802]

Severe shortage of affordable housing in Arizona. While doing some research, I discovered old buildings for rent that were awful dumps for outrageous prices. Wages need to reflect the rising costs of housing, food; etc. It's appalling the numbers of homeless in America.

[@Devil3R]

Soon as anyone says "Affordable housing" they mean Projects or Sec 8...America: BTDT..BYE.

[@McRemmyBaby]

900 for a trailer here lol

[@marcusgomez3307]

i live in The *WINE COUNTRY* in California (Santa Rosa) and im disabled, dont work and manage to own a very tiny home.. *OWNING* a place can be done..

[@hankbonner9718]

@@marcusgomez3307 that's what cartel money will do 4 u

[@JosephKulik2016]

Bottom Line = The American Dream is Flushing Down the Toilet Bowl of History !!! Get ready for: "America: The Post-Modern Third World Country !!!" Bill Gates and Elon Musk will have Poor People Washing Their Underwear for Slave Wages !!! And be Thankful for it TOO !!!

[@9r0bizzle93]

This is what happens when both parties sell us out to the highests bidders.

[@labnine3362]

"both parties" - how specifically is this homeless issue the fault of politicians?

[@soisaidtogod4248]

@@labnine3362 Really goes to the lack of proper mental healthcare in the for profit system.

[@murphyotoole9014]

@@labnine3362 Uh, let's see . . .Having open Southern borders, but turning our backs on our own populace for the specific goal of politicians just trying to get more votes . .Why do you think up in SF they want illegals to vote?? DUH!! . .

[@labnine3362]

@@murphyotoole9014 You are conflating illegal immigration with homelessness. Unless you are saying most homeless are illegals?

[@HipH0pHippy]

@@labnine3362 How do you not know it's the politicians fault? I'll explain because you'll never hear Fox speak this truth. They are elected by regular People like you and I to represent us. They then all forget the people and will lean in the direction of the rich guys willing to pay them the most money to switch votes to change law's. The rich need the laws to favor them and what they are doing, because they always want more. They want your money, my money. They want it all, so they buy the law.

[@debbiewilliams9435]

I have been homeless. I know this problem is growing. Now that I am no longer homeless, and am clean and sober for 3 years, I am reaching out to anyone sharing something encouraging.

[@SeR-HaT]

Where do you live sir?

[@Hammermaster420]

Thank your government for helping other countries besides ours!

[@tomdecuca3627]

People do not seem to understand that once you fall so far, it keeps getting worse. You are judged and cast out. The opportunities get less and less. This is only going to get worse.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

Exactly. Only the LUCKY can claim: "Well, *I* got through hard times, and now, I'm a millionaire! Don't be lazy. Ya gotta fight through the tough times. Work hard. Create opportunities. YOU'RE in control. Otherwise, yer just blamin' someone else fer yer problems." Too many bad rolls of the dice are simply impossible to recover from. No one could do it. Not without actual, legitimate, outside, 'not-influenced-by-oneself' HELP. But, all too often... yup... body bags are the only ticket to eternal freedom. I'll be heading out soon, myself. 🙂 I'm OK with it, though. Somewhere after 2026, my suffering can finally come to an end here on Earth. Time to head HOME. 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨

[@tomdecuca3627]

@@Novastar.SaberCombat Everyone that has a success story, seems to leave out the key ingredient- it takes money to make money. Someone gave them a "leg up"!! A poor man saving money working a job cannot save enough to go into business these days. Everyone spends what they make.

[@wedp112]

I've been there lost everything living out of a car with small kids, and I agree someone gave them a leg up they should not begrudge others without a support system. I had to bite the bullet and beg help from my family who I been estranged from due to physical and mental abuse. I had to sit and weigh whether putting my family in that environment was better than the car we were living in. People like to harp on about "poor choices" I literally ran away, and had got married young, had a pretty ok job and lost it all when my ex-husband left. There are people who make poor choices because those poor choices are slightly better than the alternative choice. For me it became a game of stepping stones to get to jump from one abysmal choice, outweigh pros and cons to another slightly less abysmal choice. I payed that game for almost 16 years and it's hell. The US does not give people the help they need to pull themselves out, they leave you on the bones of your ass with nothing but lip service. Anyone who thinks there is help has never applied for that help, it's impossible to get. I'm remarried and live in UK, had my husband not pulled us out I would have been still working 60hrs a week living in a stupid car.

[@tomdecuca3627]

@@wedp112 Yes. Your story is similar to most that have been there. People have this "television" mindset where the underdog pulls themselves up by their "bootstraps" and does some heroic leap out of his spiralling decline. It doesn't really work like that. What people that have not been there do not know, is the "gnome"at the DHS government agency is there to keep you from getting those benefits, not give you this nice, fat bag full of handouts. I have a feeling the arrogance is going to change. As more and more people fall out of grace, it will be the ones experienced with living without power and water that will be at the top of the food chain

[@RealStonedApe]

Bingo bango! 100% this. Gonna be worse than any of us could begin to imagine, gonna do whatever it takes tk get out of this country within these next 2 months - i'll die out here if I don't...

[@jneum33224]

Its bad in NYC as well. I feel so sad for all those struggling and we are all one step away from being homeless.

[@TheBikemaster94]

Same here but not for the ones who choose to use drugs and make bad decisions

[@hillbillychic8417]

No we are not all one step away from homelessness. Some people plan and budget and make good decisions.

[@truthandreality8465]

​@@hillbillychic8417 _jneum33224455 is a communist farm troll, like Fox/Disney, posting from a communist axis country. Leave it to Fox/Disney to find any opening of opportunity to propagate against America and allow its foreign comrades to prosper with their propaganda.

[@sayjaibao01188]

Phoenix is getting too expensive!

[@TheBenzCollector]

I don’t feel sorry for trash piles enabled by democrats….shameful

[@sirstriker886]

There are 3 major things that contribute to homelessness. Substance abuse, meaningful employment, and cost of living(mainly housing which is usually the most expensive). You can tackle any one of these and it can solve the problems for these individuals or prevent it from getting worse. Substance abuse would be the first one to tackle. People may start heavy substance abuse after job loss and or the ability to keep up with cost of living, aka hopelessness, giving up, trapping them in substance abuse with nothing to look forward to except for their next fix. It would be interesting to know how many of them are college educated. Bad college programs that left them in debt and no job that society let them do to themselves. I felt this in the recession of 2008. The year I graduated mechanical engineering. It is an absolutely devastating experience. Spent all that time an effort just to get kicked in the teeth.

[@snoopynow7523]

Mental Illness!! Big Factor you left out!!!!

[@sirstriker886]

@@snoopynow7523 That do you think are the main contributors of prolonged mental illness? Drug abuse, lack of purpose(work), and hopelessness(reaping the spoils of your efforts). Why do you lots of vets go homeless? Their work is over and they feel underappreciated for their efforts.

[@thomasaquinas2600]

I've visited Phoenix and loved the city. The fact that unemployment, drought, the centralization of business (i.e. big box stores and Amazon), and other factors have reduced the chances to make ends meet is the cause. I'm sympathetic to their plight, especially because unlike Oakland, Ventura, or Santa Barbara, living outside in Phoenix is only possible in the deep part of winter.

[@NoOneHere2Day]

That's why all the homeless from other states come to CA.

[@shirleymcdaniel1854]

Thank you the Democrats.

[@wanaraz]

Well stay away then.

[@dark12ain]

@@shirleymcdaniel1854 stop doing that, why do people just blame either a democrat or republican and it's problem solved as if they are solely to blame for this problem. Jesus it's more that just a party group

[@dfiniin6820]

actually it is possible from October through April. Just saying

[@CMcKinnon1013]

TY for bringing this too focus. I am disabled. I am struggling to find housing. I have a voucher thru Maricopa County..just found a place but they denied me because I have no credit. That's what they said. Soooo the affordable housing community who is not supposed to do this..is doing this.. Making it harder for people who need help to find a place.. :(

[@couchmayne4351]

I’m sorry to here I saw someone on a channel called lost in phx commenting about helping people and placing appeals to get homes let me see if I can reach out

[@drivenmad7676]

BUT THEY WANNA GIVE UKRAINE ANOTHER 40 BILLION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FJB

[@sandiraygoza1514]

@@drivenmad7676 It's crazy! What a disgrace the USA is becoming with so many working people struggling to survive and live in affordable housing. We don't need to be sending millions of USD to other countries for wars or weapons when our own "house" is a disaster.

[@ucanon2662]

Another failure by your Phoenix liberal politicians! Vote them out! They are part of the problem and not part of the solution!

[@CMcKinnon1013]

@@couchmayne4351 thank you

[@zoni3gurl641]

What’s even more crazy is that this is happening with a few blocks of the law makers of the State. So if they can’t see what’s going on in this area, they are completely blind.

[@kirstinstrand6292]

No, they simply do not care!

[@poempadgett4664]

It’s not happening in their own, or their families’ and grown children’s and grandchildren’s, neighborhoods, because if it were, it would have been cleared out & cleaned up within a week, and would then remain, thereafter, as thus! 😠

[@francescruz740]

And that is where polsi 🤑🍷 lives , they should live around her house ,cuz of what she's doing to the United States of America 🤨!!!

[@SammyLeau]

VERY BLIND! But the lawmakers still wouldn't care. You want to know why... Because it's not them who are living on the streets. They are in their homes with a roof over their heads and food to eat. It's very sad...

[@robertrondeauu2481]

No they aren't blind, they caused it. They will not ever , ever admit to it.

[@massacremitchmcconnell7058]

All it takes is one broken down car, one medical bill, one accident. It’s scary how easy it is for us to fall into debt and become homeless. The gray area really needs to be spoken about more.

[@palaceofgnosis9941]

The government should put the Homeless on the indian reservations.Put the good homeless back to work and keep the rest of the homeless that cant or dont want to work on the reservation.The government is already paying for the reservations,there is free medical,free dental and most of the times free housing for indians.The reservation is pretty much a Homeless Services area.,.It was never thier land,reservations were designed to keep the indians away from normal society.The reservations were built to keep the indians away from regular Americans because they were uncivilized.

[@massacremitchmcconnell7058]

@@palaceofgnosis9941 ??? Why not process them into _Soylent Green?_

[@puppylove3781]

@@massacremitchmcconnell7058 That would consume valuable resources! And apparently Palace of Gnosis has it ALLLL figured out you know?

[@massacremitchmcconnell7058]

@@puppylove3781 What?

[@Shorty_Lickens]

Its not a gray area and its talked about constantly. Nobody wants to tax the rich and deal with our societies problems.

[@jlv3x]

This seems to be happening in ever major city in the country right now. The price of rent and bills are so high that even if you can pay them there is no money left to buy food. As long as inflation rises faster than wages this problem will only get worse.

[@themarbleking]

America likes to tell everyone it is the richest country in history. …yeah if you say so! LoL!

[@mizzury54]

Homelessness was a big problem well before the recent jump in inflation.

[@jlv3x]

@@mizzury54 not at the levels they are now. I'm not talking about the recent inflation, I'm talking about over the last three to four years. In many places homelessness has doubled and tripled in the last four years.

[@mbankslje0nk]

@@jlv3x I remember 15 years ago there being tents of homeless people in Portland Oregon. I see it here in Charlotte NC now days.

[@Rain-yh9ws]

Yes it looks much like Portland Oregon & L.A California & now starting in Idaho. The " middle class" is dwindling to become the working poor while the rich keep getting richer. I believe we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg coming & i truly believe the worse is yet to come. We should all be alarmed.

[@elisaorozco9494]

Currently, in downtown Los Angeles, Calif, there are over 50 CONTINUOUS BLOCKS of homeless street campers. It appears that the homeless situation is out-of-control everywhere!!!

[@labnine3362]

"everywhere" = East Coast. Ask yourself, "why"?

[@YoutubeGold-dc5fd]

@@labnine3362 blue cities..

[@dianabeurman364]

I heard 78 blocks!

[@riskyron1416]

And each homeless in LA costs taxpayers $115,000 a year manly due medical problems. Penny wise pound foolish they do not provide housinf tat would be under $20,000

[@themarbleking]

America likes to tell everyone it is the richest country in history. …yeah if you say so! LoL!

[@rustyshackleford3371]

This problem has been spreading throughout phoenix. What used to be quiet neighborhoods are being turned into dangerous areas full of camps in parking lots.

[@ucanon2662]

Another failure by your Phoenix liberal politicians! Vote them out! They are part of the problem and not part of the solution!

[@MrSweetmanj]

Yup, mine is.

[@georgewolfiii1170]

Homelessness isn't just spreading in Phoenix. It is growing in every city in the country.

[@t.g.7180]

It’s an epidemic across this country. Welcome to Build Back Better 😁

[@georgewolfiii1170]

@@t.g.7180 Biden's "Build Back Better" is not the cause of any homelessness at all.

[@mvtv-montanavigilantetv5976]

Absolutely love the Southwest; stunning landscapes and enjoyed Scottsdale for the short time I was there ... but was involuntary when family moved there 10 months before being able to strike out on my own. AWAY from the heat. TENTS on SIDEWALKS? How are any of these people not frying?

[@tipsybass7060]

I can almost guarantee those numbers of homeless people are grossly underreported. Go to any of the city libraries, ride the light rail, they are everywhere. The Home Depot and Walmarts on Thomas.. there too. It was bad when I was last there on 2017. They like to ship them to different counties. Yuma is really bad as well. There’s a lack of people that actually care, they only start complaining when their lives are minutely impacted (like seeing tent cities and being afraid to go to certain places). Not ask homeless people are addicts. Yet they are all corralled into the same group. It is exactly the same as saying all white peoples are white nationalists. We all know that is not the case. Not Everyone has a family, not everyone has a support network, especially people who suffer from mental illness. They are used to people giving up on them and not caring. This is why so many become addicts in the first place. That is the saddest part, being used to being cast aside like you don’t matter. Very unamerican! Completely against what Lady Liberty stands for on Ellis island!

[@rexluminus9867]

Many just try new drugs as fun being high.Shortly after they're addicts.Bingo. Get kicked out from 🏡🏠. Don't play with drugs!!!

[@Bee-hf3fc]

The lack of support system is a big issue. I'm mid 40's parents deceased only child as were my parents. I've never been homeless but gosh I could be close with one false move or bad luck. I enjoy libraries and have talked to homeless telling them about seasonal jobs in national parks and resort towns. I worked that circuit for years. Most offer temp contracts, housing etc. Never had anyone take me up that idea. Just a thought.

[@rexluminus9867]

@@Bee-hf3fc Supporting the "useless" eaters don't return much if any $!🤑 Got it?👍

[@Bee-hf3fc]

@@rexluminus9867 Try that again

[@rexluminus9867]

@@Bee-hf3fc Try what?

[@lostintheelf]

Let me break it down for everybody. Was living in my car through late May in Phoenix. At night the lowest temperature was 109 degrees between 3:30am and 5:30am. It was amazing. When the sun rose I still wanted to sleep an extra hour or two so I adapted to sleeping in a puddle of sweat. This was all in the shade of a building or tree. Working at least so I made enough money to bail to San Diego. Only in the winter is camping legit in Phoenix. Folks camping in mid July are Living in a hell hole.

[@georgewolfiii1170]

All you had to do was drive to Flagstaff for the summer!

[@martinnorbeck4657]

Company I work for sends drivers to Arizona. They demand a/c in March. You can not sleep in a truck without it.

[@sarbantz]

Fentanyl

[@ucanon2662]

Another failure by your Phoenix liberal politicians! Vote them out! They are part of the problem and not part of the solution!

[@steveanderson1058]

Walmart is hiring

[@coupleofbeers31]

They need to call this Little Skid Row. What a shame. We are sending billions overseas to help Ukraine but won't take care of our own.

[@Greeneggsandham123]

We pay billions here too. The US has many social programs, social security, medicare, medicaid, low income housing ,disability, food stamps, free methadone, free medical clinic, shelters, etc. all paid for by the tax payers, not to mention thousands of charities, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Red Cross, food drives, etc. You can’t help people who don’t want to help themselves.

[@halfpintbum]

We should send weapons to the zone instead

[@donaldfrazier5244]

40 billion dollars worth of housing,mental help and some form of education and these people would become normal citizens of our great country!

[@SammyLeau]

I literally just typed something similar to what you typed. We can help other countries, but can't help our country... Make it make sense, America!

[@interstellarsurfer]

Always. The rulers don't see these folks as their own kind. They see homeless as bums and drug abusers who are getting what they deserve.

[@delmahermosillo6052]

There are going to be more with these rent prices. It's ridiculous that a family has to have two incomes just to afford a 1 bed apartment. 1700 in my area. What can we do, why is this happening? Im scared

[@madreep]

I have a section 8 voucher and have been living in my car with my teenage son because no one will take it. Been on the waiting list for a shelter for 2 months. That's why there's so many people out there. Affordable housing complexes have wait lists over a year long. It's horrible.

[@martinnorbeck4657]

Thats one reason, there are many.

[@aburden8580]

@@martinnorbeck4657 Gee, Martin. Can you 'afford' the time & effort to add 1 or 2 more? How about a solution?

[@LClark-ry9to]

You can thank the democrat.

[@ucanon2662]

Another failure by your Phoenix liberal politicians! Vote them out! They are part of the problem and not part of the solution!

[@lauratober9275]

Look into Mobil home parks. There's section 8 and kids. Where I live it's nice and there's many trailer homes for rent. Praying for Solutions. ❤️🙏

[@alaskansummertime]

I ended up in that exact spot 20 years ago. Even then I could see the local system was a wreck. My advice to anyone in that situation would be to grab a bus ticket. I'm thousands of miles from there and would never go back in a million years.

[@Morena_LV]

The issues is, they are getting bus tickets and ending up homeless in other cities. At least that’s what’s going on here on the West Coast and Hawaii.

[@alaskansummertime]

@@Morena_LV How much is a bus ticket to Hawaii?

[@osiriswills6749]

J Man where did you go?

[@alaskansummertime]

@@osiriswills6749 Utah and then Alaska . But its kinda irrelevant. Some places are so bad once you hit bottom in all likelihood you will remain stuck there.

[@johnsingleton393]

@@alaskansummertime How is Alaska?

[@rickmjr9569]

It’s incredible how these people can live like this and I can only imagine when that heat increases, it must be unbearable 😬

[@raystanczak4277]

It is unbearable, but they have to bear it.

[@foxiedogitchypaws7141]

100 plus temperature for next 3-4 months

[@rickmjr9569]

I know right, I used to live in Scottsdale and it was soooooooo hot during the summer and fall months 🥵 I can’t imagine what those poor people are going through 😔

[@rickmjr9569]

@Markus Patients ….😆, maybe 🤷🏽‍♂️✌🏾

[@govdid195g7]

Those on drugs could care less.

[@jsha8456]

I’ve noticed these tents popping up all over Phoenix when I visit there. There are three new ones near my moms house. They cook with bbq grills. It’s unfortunate. The first and largest fentanyl company was based in Az, Ahwatukee to be more specific, the cost of living has sky rocketed, and if I’m not mistaken, individuals are no longer instituted when suffering from mental disorders in Phx. It’s a terribly perfect storm.

[@Michael-ys5cn]

It's everywhere, I have been at the same apartment for 11+ years paying 875 in Pennsylvania, landlord just raised my rent to 1,500 now I have to leave. It's so hard to find a place... everything is so expensive, anything reasonable is taken

[@I-Told-U-So]

Holy fuck, that's basically doubled. Usually it's 10% in CA

[@I-Told-U-So]

@@codecaine I was thinking to moving to flagstaff AR. it does snow in the winter. It's not worst than CA prices. It will go up there too then. We are so fuck either way!!!

[@jeffshackelford539]

Crazy ass eviction moratorium is responsible for a lot of this. Lot of landlords got knocked out. Less supply means more people fighting for less places.

[@four-x-trading5606]

The sad part is they got people willing to pay that price and then people who aren't are forced to live on the street

[@yehimstone5492]

Bidenflation

[@wedp112]

I was in deep poverty and had to work 3 jobs just to keep a roof, transportation and healthcare. By the end of an almost 70 hour work week I had $10 to my name. I hate when people say "live within your means" they are telling that to someone who don't smoke, has no tattoos, doesn't drink, had no cable, WiFi, and wore Walmart/thrift store clothes as a divorced parent of 2. We barely had any food and zero luxuries. Because the cost of basics is out of reach on a working class wage. I worked too damn hard to live that bad. I remarried a UK citizen and live there now people on benefits being housed by the council have a way better standard of living than we did. Please UK don't lose your safety nets, no one should have to live like these people, or us.

[@crand20033]

The war in Ukraine will screw up everything for you in the UK.

[@DontcallmeaCuck]

Fake review ^

[@wedp112]

@@DontcallmeaCuck Not fake, that was my life for over 12 years. That's a lot of people's lives on here. I'm not alone, there is a certain segment of the population that like to discredit their fellow citizens to try and save face. US has been exposed by the WHO, the UN and many more...it's alright to stop covering for the lies, everyone sees through them now.

[@puppylove3781]

Fake.

[@geraldscott4302]

I live in Chandler, just southeast of Phoenix. I went to check this out after watching this video. This is unreal. How did this happen? It didn't happen overnight. The mayor of Phoenix and Governor "do nothing" Ducey have known about this growing problem for a long time. This needs to be cleaned up NOW.

[@julierohrer6340]

Ducy feels we must build a wall as a priority even though these people in the tent cities modestly in that speak English...this is in all the Republicans ads for people running for office...build the wall...don't help the homeless don't make housing affordable, don' t feed the hungry, don't help with the water crisis....no the wall is their #1, 2 and 3 priority..after that it is keeping democrats out of office and having a larger government presence in people's sex lives and their bodies, who they can marry, etc. Keep the government out of business and put it onto peoples personal lives is how the AZ Republican politicians and candidates want to run things even though many Republicans think we have lived here for decades and never once been attacked by an illegal immigrant but we all pay high gas, food ,tax , etc.

[@rubendeaz]

In reality, it started from an unchecked opiote issue that got way out of control and without certain protocol's to reel it in, the problem itself becomes an abused stepchild of a problem and used as political arsenal by whoever's next in line to the podium, doctors knew what would come, as some held on to most of their patients after the DEA threatened and forced them to cut their patient rosters by 75 percent and we're practicly making new rules monthly to get rid of patients, the DEA had all the doctors scared of being arrested, and many did get harassed and arrested and lost everything because of the DEA's tactics, so, a patient gets cut off for whatever violation, now because of the new policies put in place by the DEA, it was almost impossible for someone to get another doctor to help them get the same medication they'd been taking, with that, many went to the street and started buying heroin, and thats when the next set of issues come in and so on, it's been going on for years, and it seems they're being left to die, but like I said, the problem has been used as arsenal by many, billions of dollars paid by the drug makers hmmm...

[@julierohrer6340]

@@rubendeaz it's also what the government has done with the mentally ill...so many institutions shut down, then group homes had to be more selective on who they could have live there and other people just can't afford the doctors or the meds to stabilize their conditions to where they can hold down a job.

[@icebergrose8955]

Don't forget landlord greed. Wages have not kept up with inflation but someone forgot to tell the landlords.

[@dcg590]

@@icebergrose8955 what all about all of you who ‘forgot’ to pay the rent for 2 years? Welcome to the consequences. They deserve to make up losses for squatters

[@allentoyokawa9068]

Embarrassing, Japan has less than 4k homeless people in the WHOLE country,,

[@muffs55mercury61]

As a Phoenix native (left 32 years ago with good riddence!) none of the homeless crisis surprises me. No one can afford to live there anymore. Since the 1980s practically every new housing development (houses, apartments, condos, everything) has been built exclusively for the upscale market. The middle class has been squeezed out as that was their intention all along. My one remaining relative is leaving soon. Their house is paid for but they are being squeezed out by high property taxes. A sad state affairs to the community that I once loved when growing up and in my younger days.

[@silentium927]

Any new housing is good housing in my opinion. The real problem is the population growth and housing demand has outpaced the supply. Phoenix is one of the fastest growing areas of the country. That combined with large corporations buying up the limited housing stock along with everyone and their mother wanting to use housing as “investment” properties to build passive income. Add to that the massive stimulus that pushed the market up and padded boomer/wealthy gen x stock portfolios and it’s a perfect storm. Renters and new home buyers (aka young people) are fucked.

[@djusmc4764]

OBUMMERS plan is working out perfectly

[@LJRoss-zv8hw]

Where do you live?

[@Editnamehere]

Get lost.

[@LJRoss-zv8hw]

@Brownfield Zidlicky you don't move away, move up.

[@Lilith701]

Our government should be addressing these issues instead of arguing about abortion. They need to keep their minds out of women’s wombs and start to deal with the real world where the real people of this real country are suffering due to government negligence

[@Ms.NoNo2]

Exactly, and these are the women who are going to be affected by the abortion laws the most. Sexual assault happens often to homeless women.

[@Iwilldestroyyoo]

And wasting billions, on a ridiculous war that America has nothing to do with, best potato in office, right? 😂

[@jimdoe3288]

Abortion ? We spending Billions to fund Ukraine people over our own. We literally out of baby formula in some places 😅

[@kimberlybeeson3613]

Is it true that Biden sent a lot of baby formula to the Border and now there’s not enough for US mothers?

[@MrALAGRANPUTA]

Dude our Government has been bought off and forever in debt to the Bankers. They dont give a fuck about us want to get rid of most of us. So shits just gonna keep getting worse. With the mega drought, upcoming drastic food shortages, our power grid falling apart...My god what a disaster. Terrifying future. Alot of us here in the West will be fucked. Reality can be pretty harsh.

[@michaeldusso6882]

Re: “one of the largest tent cities in America”, I live in L.A. and am calling BS on that claim !!!

[@johnconlon4020]

Kudos on those desperate people not clogging the road, it tells me they still respect where they live and they do the best they can with what they've got. I feel for them.

[@palaceofgnosis9941]

The government should put the Homeless on the indian reservations.Put the good homeless back to work and keep the rest of the homeless that cant or dont want to work on the reservation.The government is already paying for the reservations,there is free medical,free dental and most of the times free housing for indians.The reservation is pretty much a Homeless Services area.,.It was never thier land,reservations were designed to keep the indians away from normal society.The reservations were built to keep the indians away from regular Americans because they were uncivilized.

[@wutm8]

This is great depression 2.0

[@alexochoa5146]

With these rent prices wtf you expect. Greed is the reason!

[@invader_ren5974]

And laziness and addiction

[@hollyfisher8811]

Breaks my 💔 here in Surprise, AZ, to now see the highly growing number of Unsheltered also here in Phoenix Metro West~Cannot imagine surviving in the Hellish heat all Summertime long without A/C, plus the abilty to at least get a shower🌋🔥:( Was out today in 104 degree heat and came home feeling wiped out...115-119 around the corner for several months as we do not really cool down until October🍁!!

[@davidwright873]

you mean homeless drug addled losers right? it's all personal choice....If i hang out at the beach for a day, Im unsheltered..If im out in the rain, Im unsheltered...These people choose to be homeless...

[@piercehawke8021]

Add 5 degrees hotter summers here in Bullhead City and, our homeless population seems to be growing.

[@ericsmith1801]

But it's 65 degrees in Bullhead City in January. Flagstaff will be the place to move to in June.

[@brianbazolo]

These people gotta learn to "snowbird"....

[@ralphtom3431]

People lived in az in the 1800s with no ac Today. Men still pour concrete all day in the summer. U adapt

[@indytherottweiler9002]

This needs to be fixed. I am a renter. I take care of my mother in law, 14 year old daughter and my husband. We OWN a business and make a pretty decent amount. Actually more then most landlords want for a normal home. I had a dv situation with my child's father in 2011 and left our home going into a shelter to save mine and my children's life. I left an apartment and got an eviction. That is 12 years old. I did never take care of it. I dealt with the trauma. I been trying my best to get things in order that in my 20s feel apart. I was told because of that eviction, most anyone will not rent to us. Now my family and I have been forced to move from airbnb to now a friend's bedroom. We are embarrassed and ashamed and homeless. This city an dtbis country gives people no options. All these implants with more money then "middle class" are left in really bad situations. This is scary when no one cares

[@indytherottweiler9002]

I wish I didn't have too. My credit isn't good enough to get a mortgage yet. So, my family and I are suffering big time.

[@fredgervinm.p.3315]

My Mom moved my sister and I into my Aunts house, 3brm with 7ppl. Times were tough, we made it work until Mom got a raise. Hang in there!

[@indytherottweiler9002]

I'm trying. I keep picturing us on a side of a road sleeping in our cars. My anxiety has gone through the roof and my depression is back so bad I think I may need to see a doctor. I am terrified to the point of night terrors. I wake up screaming and crying every night this week. I figured I'd throw myself completely into my work, I'd get a break from the stress. But even then I can't think straight and work that takes 2 hours is taking up to 8. I really really pray something happens for us.

[@fredgervinm.p.3315]

@@indytherottweiler9002 I'm saying one now for ya...

[@onenikkione]

Good thing is you own a business, so you are working, have income. Now just work at getting your credit score up. Yes, it will take time, but it will be worth the effort. First, find out what you have to do to fix the eviction in your past.

[@OurFamilyGutierrez]

Homelessness is massive issue everywhere. 😔

[@blewis7359]

To what extent is the border crisis contributing to this problem? Where are all the people who break the law to come here go - who is their support group and who is footing that bill. Our priorities are whacked. These people are mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, grand parents and VETERANS! The deserve better than this from this nation - same on us all for allowing this to continue!

[@flameofthewest6196]

Biden..... I did that!

[@nilaja-itsmylife]

It’s “concerning to property and business owners” … But not to our governments and not to the majority of the remaining housed people in America …

[@Knaeben]

It will affect everyone...

[@user-st6nt4ou6f]

So true! Lots of tongue clucking and tsk, tsk but- solve??

[@jroscak6797]

This is scary man. I ask god everyday that I don’t become homeless. That is my major fear, but now it’s starting to get harder and harder. There are jobs out there but aren’t paying what they need to pay for people to live.

[@_celestial_8752]

exactly and it’s going to get uglier

[@coleengoodell7523]

The minimum wage hasn't been raised for 13 years. Criminal.

[@thesheeplewillhavetheirsay7288]

Biden’s America. Inflation through the roof.

[@ucanon2662]

Another failure by your Phoenix liberal politicians! Vote them out! They are part of the problem and not part of the solution!

[@Danny451]

Well "Jesus" says if you want to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give to the poor! -Matthew 19:21. Praise the Lord!!!

[@357pghguero]

It never used to look like this when I lived in Phoenix from 2008-2012. Homeless were always down by 9th and buckeye but not like this. What are the politicians doing?

[@puppylove3781]

Looking for election in California

[@lilirishgrl]

I was there in the late 90s and there for sure were lots of homeless colonies. It looks much worse now.

[@VintageToiletsRock]

The homeless man they interviewed was an absolute genius! If I ever become homeless, I hope he is my neighbor. I wish him the best of luck and highly respect his intelligence, perseverance, and flexibility.

[@mikelmart]

If he was such a genius why isn't he working? I'm sure there's lots of jobs he can do, he looked able mentally and physically.

[@robgrey6183]

If he's such a genius why is he a bum living on the street?

[@VintageToiletsRock]

@@robgrey6183 Bad luck has a lot to do with it. Are people who are housed all geniuses? I highly doubt that.

[@VintageToiletsRock]

@@mikelmart I believe he is looking for work, but you need money to look presentable and get hired. Besides, being a genius doesn't require holding a job. He was homeless by choice.

[@mikelmart]

@@VintageToiletsRock So why choose to live like that? If I was in his situation I would tell a future employer my situation, that I'm homeless but will work my way out of that situation ASAP. I'm sure someone hiring would give him a chance. After that it's up to him.

[@unsolicitedadvice2581]

This is sad to see these homeless fellows while the government is spending flying migrants from the border and what else housing them(?). Sad!!

[@polarbearsrus6980]

It has nothing to do with migrants, you don't get it. The people who hire the migrants should be prosecuted.

[@Woeisme2]

Pretty soon people are gonna start moving to Mexico for cheaper housing I see it already

[@polarbearsrus6980]

@@Woeisme2 Other countries, too.

[@sweets6865]

I lived in Phoenix from 97 to 2006 and it was nothing like that at all. It's sad to see it starting to look like LA skid row.

[@hus390]

This is way smaller than LA's skid row. This is couple of blocks, while skid row engulfs entire neighbourhoods. It's also solvable. You need to level these tents just like how NYC does today under Mayor Adams. It's largely a lifestyle issue, a choice, specially in sunny cities like LA and Phoenix. And you need take those mentally ill to hospital or clinic. But you have crazy organization that romanticize this issue and oppose solutions.

[@lafee479]

@@hus390 true, it is smaller but skid row did not become what it is overnight. we need to seriously hold our elected officials accountable so this problem can be nipped in the bud.

[@LifeOfTheParty323]

@@hus390 Trust me, if L.A can't clean it up, your state won't either. Especially because a lot of these people don't want help. So, what do you do?

[@comatose3788]

This isn't complex.. people that own property don't care what happens to America and only care about their cash. The citys CLEARLY need to set some rent standards that are enforced.

[@RickarooCarew]

thanks for sharing 🤠 last summer I took a trip to Albuquerque.. my truck broke down and I spent several weeks in... inexpensive motels... it was not cheap.. and if I were in different circumstances, could have ended with me out there with the herds of young... homeless men and women... Albuquerque is a nice city and not quite as hot in the summer... the streets are full of these young people... kids ... kids are not other people's responsibility... those are our kids, brothers and sisters... I'm one of those people who thinks give a man a fish and feed him for a day... teach him to fish and feed him for life

[@RickarooCarew]

when I first met my wife I was trying to get out of the car business... mechanic and sales... but.. I taught auto shop for a while... skills... training and education are the answer... we are looking for property a little further away from the city... somewhere between Payson and Albuquerque... a trade school for homeless kids is one of the promises I have made to myself... along with a little education for reading... and life skills... like how to dress for job hunting.. and when you get a job I'll keep you posted

[@eckankar7756]

I was a public health RN for Maricopa for 13 years focused on the homeless population. In all those years the only requests they wanted was free rent, drugs, alcohol, smokes. They didn't want services, they didn't want to work, they didn't want education or training they just wanted feel better by consuming more illicit substances that destroy their bodies. I soon realized our team was on sight year after year to make it look like we were doing something beneficial.

[@chvron203]

So every single homeless person just wants drugs and free everything. Cool. Where did you get your RN again?

[@turbodbusa]

most are just greasy slimebags , i want to be optimistic and say 10% deserve a help.

[@janhatcher6991]

that sounds right! You cannot help somebody that does not want to be helped

[@atomictraveller]

i went to UHS with gabrielle giffords, the gifted and talented education program school. a year before she was shot in the head as congresswoman, she helped me leave the u.s. due to organised stalking. i was remotely knocked unconscious and had a camera removed from my eye at LAX before my flight. now. having to put up with organised stalking bullshit wherever i go in society for years, how much help do you think i'm going to ask for? you don't want to know what i went through at jobs in the years before that. oj simpson was a coverup for the mkultra child rape verdict on the same date. but no one remembered that when the next organised child molestation bust is made or the next. people ain't perfect and governance is people. so are masons but you wouldn't know it from the way they act.

[@learnhowto_click1334]

Do you think being in active addiction had anything to do with those requests? Sounds like you have no clue what drug addiction is like, it literally changes your brain chemistry. You're a nurse but know nothing about drug addiction or what causes homelessness? Poverty plays a much larger role as a root cause of homelessness that also often leads to drug abuse. No one wants to live on the streets and suffer like they do, if you think they do then you're a heartless cynic or most likely a republican.

[@mike4619]

In the summer of 2011, I was in Phoenix, living in my car for three days. Once I got my first paycheck, I was able to rent my first apartment. I can only imagine what these people are going through.

[@tabvalentino]

They are going through massive amounts of drugs. That's what these people are going through.

[@leroygardner2034]

@@tabvalentino EVERYONE isn't going through massive amount of drugs. Stop with the hating. No wonder people on other countries call America a country of hateful people who will never live in peace. And look at the mass shootings!!

[@tabvalentino]

@@leroygardner2034 Right on man.

[@kylesmith8128]

Yeah and sadly, lots of these people are combat veterans who could not overcome their experiences, lost their families, and fell into despair.

[@crand20033]

That was then, but this is now. Things have changed dramatically for renters and buyers in the USA. It's becoming impossible to live.

[@swerne01]

The solution is so obvious -find a more suitable piece of ground for them to put their tents on. They're not complaining about living in tents, they'd just like to feel safer and the business owners in that area don't like them there because they're bad for business. So develop a campground for them of the appropriate size. There must be a parcel of land somewhere in Phoenix that fits the bill. Build bathroom and shower facilities, provide shade shelters, and arrange it so police can easily patrol it and keep the homeless safe. You might even have some social services available nearby. It won't cost much and the homeless will be safer and happier, and so will the rest of Phoenix.

[@notatthistime3867]

Except they won't move. They want easy access to all the downtown workers to panhandle. They are also close to where the Diamondbacks and Suns play and they come out in full force to beg for money during one of their games. It's easier for them to buy drugs and alcohol in that area. It's not an issue to patrol that area now. The main police headquarters is literally just a few blocks away. They are already near government and private social services. You put them in any other area and the surrounding area/neighborhood will just go down the drain. We all know what really needs to be done with this kind of homelessness, we just lack the courage to implement the solution.

[@swerne01]

@@notatthistime3867 You don't give them a choice. You move them. Cities do it all the time. They just haven't been giving the homeless a good alternative when they do it.

[@notatthistime3867]

@@swerne01 I already laid out why they want to be in that area. There is no better area for them. What new neighborhood do you think will want to be burdened with a 1000 homeless people? How do you purpose forcibly keeping them in the new area? Would you be happy if the city dumped a 1000 homeless people near you?

[@swerne01]

@@notatthistime3867 Every city has run-down areas that no one lives in with vacant buildings and empty lots everywhere. I know there are reasons why the homeless want to live there. I'm sure the homeless wanted to live in the Venice Beach area of Los Angeles too, but that didn't stop the city from clearing them out of there.

[@notatthistime3867]

@@swerne01 Again, you're just showing your ignorance of the Phoenix area. The area they are already in is run down and isn't densely populated. To west there is a low traffic cemetery. Phoenix isn't like Detroit where you just have rows and rows of either empty houses or buildings. They are doing the least possible damage in that area. There is no other place you can dump a 1000 homeless people in Phoenix and not have it immediately negatively impact that area. But by all means, show me on Google maps where they can be dumped? If you haven't noticed, the homeless have returned to places like Venice Beach. The only reason they could clean up the camps to begin with was because they had available shelter beds to place them in. That's the only way you can clean up camps now if you're a city that falls under the Jurisdiction of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. But if homeless people can overrun an area, they know there is nothing the police can do as there won't be enough shelter beds available to move them all. It's a game teh homeless and their advocates play.

[@karriemsharief]

The riverbeds, and overhead bridges are filled with tents. It’s definitely not a lack of work available. There are plenty of jobs but house prices are definitely a major problem. This is going to get much worse. Crime will become the order of the day when people can’t afford food.

[@hus390]

It's also a lifestyle. A choice.

[@Dwightstjohn-fo8ki]

@@hus390 ??? are you 12?? this is happening all over North America. and you can't go to a job TIRED or not dressed well, and clean.

[@redclayscholar620]

@anna♡ they do know that they exist but many know that you can't drink or get high while there or you'll be kicked out.

[@davidcarter1013]

@@hus390 Yes,to a point.

[@KBK475]

Was just there a week ago. Pretty sad. We are spending millions to bus migrants as a political statement but no money for these people. Sad

[@whiteboymike3999]

This is what the government wants you to think. They're the ones doing the damage. ALL YOUR FOOD EVERYTHING has harmful chemicals banned in Europe Canada etc that cause mental illness development and also affects your sperm/eggs. Why do you think we have so many mental illnesses. They profit off of it and they do stunts like that so you can blame others instead of them. Wake up!

[@ShadowsandCityLights]

You're right we should bus the homeless as well!!!

[@KBK475]

@@ShadowsandCityLights and we can bus people like you as well.

[@barqu1636]

@@ShadowsandCityLights Phoenix did bus their homeless to Tucson in 2001 prior to the World Series games. I saw it on the news.

[@robertwoodpa6463]

When I was growing up there were mental institutions where these people were taken care of a lot better than they are now.

[@Dwightstjohn-fo8ki]

And Republican states made sure those people were turned out into the streets. Thank you, Ronald Reagan. And it's been getting worse since.

[@hanfucolorful9656]

concentration camps.

[@hanfucolorful9656]

people need to be free.

[@four-x-trading5606]

You think everyone is a mental case on the street? Have you talked to everyone on the street?

[@MrWascalwabbit]

There's not a thing wrong with a significant number of those folks that affordable housing/rents wouldn't fix. Rents going from $600-750/mo up to $1200 - 1600/mo is the only reason many of them are homeless.

[@joannaazar7396]

Wow!! And the high heat doesn’t help. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@painmt651]

Stop letting your cities spend money on this! The more they spend, the more problem you will see. Charities will help people. The ORGANIZATIONS that have salaried workers DO NOT WANT TO SOLVE ANYTHING.

[@TheREALLibertyOrDeath]

How can something so obvious be so confusing to others? Big government spending = poverty for all

[@RektemRectums]

Whew. It's a good thing you guys said unsheltered instead of homeless because I'm sure they're all watching this right now and feeling so much better about themselves.

[@interstellarsurfer]

They're saying unsheltered, because we're not counting the people living in cars, campers, and their friends garage anymore. It makes the problem sound much smaller than it actually is. 🍺😉

[@RektemRectums]

@@jahmanborneo1343 You're arguing about the semantics of it right now. Clown. Clearly only morons are offended by the combination of the words home and less.

[@RektemRectums]

@@heyyall9378 yeah and when unsheltered gets used so much to the point where it gets offensive too then we can use a new polite word like home-phobic. And let's just keep repeating this pointless process because feefees waaaaaaa.

[@atomictraveller]

please make sure you are soliciting the clowns' correct pronouns

[@allthingsharbor]

Our local homeless population is exploding in the small city where I live in Georgia. Also "exploding" are the former subsidized housing units - being town down and replaced by high rent apartments. Coincidence ? I think not. Not everyone can afford $1200 a month just for renting a one bedroom unit.

[@four-x-trading5606]

That's actually very cheap compared to crappy California they want like $3000 or more for a studio smh

[@yehimstone5492]

Bidenflation

[@slvrktman7824]

It’s only 110 degrees in the shade…my tent is a little toasty!

[@larryhollins459]

And USA gives $30 Billion another country, unbelievable

[@jakeencinas2389]

oy vey!

[@WkUpPeople]

It gets hotter than Hades during the summer in Arizona. I feel so sorry for those people.

[@bigx9963]

7 miles from Hell.

[@markfelice6015]

Why? Just like me, they can move!

[@eatrunandtravel]

Same thing is slowly happening in Toronto rent prices went up from 1000$ to 3000$ in the past year in a lot of places

[@four-x-trading5606]

I hate how I read in the comments where people say it's not a rent issues when it's clear to see that it is they want to say it's drugs most people homeless now is because of rent and what happend with COVID

[@idellameyer7411]

I read about a man in his 50s that started investing in stocks then retired in 2years with over $6million, that right there is my utmost goal and I'd really appreciate clues and tips on how to reach this goal within 5years

[@gaileickhoff116]

1. Limit your spending/cut off retail therapy 2.Put the extra cash towards investing in high yielding or steady investment. 3. Get a financial coach/mentor to guide through your investing goal. These might look simple but they require good amount of willpower, but through mentorship, I've been able to consistently grow my portfolio to $800K and I'm looking forward to retiring at 50 as well and I only wish I started up early. Goodluck

[@idellameyer7411]

@@gaileickhoff116 That's awesome 👏 if it is not asking too much, do you mind hooking me up with your coach

[@gaileickhoff116]

@@idellameyer7411 The consultant that guides and assist me is *Julia Renee Lindberg* you can check her out online and reach out to her through her website to book an appointment.

[@idellameyer7411]

@@gaileickhoff116 Thanks for sharing, just looked up the broker you mentioned on google and I'm super impressed with her credentials. I will be writing her an email shortly

[@bazjr86]

Nice sales pitch ladies

[@bakerwannabe4435]

This is so sad! Our Phoenix Government needs to do something NOW and help these people. We have summer heat coming and will be 112 degrees and hotter. How many deaths will we have to have before something is done? Thank you for reporting this.

[@sarbantz]

Fentanyl 💊, popular blues rule on the streets.

[@steveanderson1058]

Let them stay on your couch

[@Raskzi]

Fentanyl is the leading cause of death in America and homelessness. But immigrants coming in by the thousands.

[@ucanon2662]

Another failure by your Phoenix liberal politicians! Vote them out! They are part of the problem and not part of the solution!

[@Danny451]

The Phoenix Government is working on the situation at this very moment. 🏌️ 🤣🍾

[@melaniemiles2783]

This is a very sad situation that is happening all over the USA. It's not just due to Covid but to landlords increasing prices and selling homes out from under renters. Greed.

[@UAPbigfootandBOATDRINKS]

100% you nailed it. Greed.

[@Maedelrosen]

The sad part is that its 100% arbitrary. Landlords like to sit on their ass and siphon all your money into their bank. For our society to continue, it will require a cap on rent.

[@puppylove3781]

J E W S. 100% you nailed it. "Greed" (nudge nudge, wink wink!)

[@jetjazzdauntless218]

Wonder what would happen if I pitched a tent on the sidewalk in front of the mayors office or home?

[@amerithaiphx]

You might never be seen again

[@oo6112]

I say we all do it!

[@sveronih5376]

Homeless due to the ridiculous housing prices is one thing. Here in Oregon we have folks who struggle, we also have those who are addicted to drugs as well as mentally unstable. The level of crime is horrendous

[@rickschoeps4583]

Did you find the police how's that working for you

[@lisahoward8676]

I Live in West Phoenix and there's little homeless encampments everywhere. I grew up here. It's never been this bad. The rent is outrageous! I need to get over 20 hrs a pay period just to make ends meet. I feel for the people living on fixed incomes that can't work those extra hours to make up the difference. That's all of our elderly and disabled folks. I know a great deal of the homeless population struggle with Mental illness too. I just attended my first town hall and met Representative Ruben Gallegos. This man is our elected official. I wanted him to know my concerns. I dragged half my family out to this event. Get involved and know that the people we elect are suppose to fight for us. Let them know who you are.

[@october420]

absolutely agree w/you, all starts w/who we elect & will they keep to promises on which they were elected on...

[@lisahoward8676]

They won't always keep their promises (Kirsten Sinema) but we can't give up. If you listen to some of the Republicans on these posts they think all the homeless are drug addicts, drunk, lazy or immigrants. They say get off your ass and work but let me tell you I'm an American Citizen from AZ. My family has worked the fields of this land for many years, me included. I live pay check to pay check. Heaven forbid I have a stroke of bad luck or get hurt I could just as easily be homeless too and these Repubs are gonna assume the same about me.

[@october420]

@@lisahoward8676 you are absolutely correct, so many of us live pc to pc & it wouldnt take much for us to be there, living homeless because of an injury or other no fault issue... but soon as we hit the streets, we're addicts, wtf...

[@johnnyz1781]

Homelessness has nothing to do with rent. It's a drug problem. If you can't afford rent, move to a city you can afford.

[@jacklong7048]

@@october420 Also people not be so reliant on government to take care of them.

[@jackpinesavage1628]

No one sleeps on the sidewalk, in a tent, in Michigan, when it's 21 degrees below zero (F) in February. We see the homeless in the summer, riding bicycles loaded down with gear, way out in the middle of no where. By the time the snow arrives, they fly away, just like the hummingbirds, when they fly to Mexico. If you have compassion in your heart, you help them when you can.

[@markbajek2541]

That's sort of true but I live in a west coast Michigan town of about 8000 and we have a year round homeless population of around 90 , more in the summer. Typically they are sheltered at night in colder months by churches, who kick them out on the street around 6 or 7 AM and they end up in the Library until the shelters reopen..

[@michaelbell75]

What homeless people have the money to be seasonal? lol. Thats not really homelessness. I can't even afford to be seasonal.

[@lastnamefirst4035]

@@michaelbell75 😃

[@carlgharis7948]

@@markbajek2541 which is really doing nothing to assist

[@carlgharis7948]

@@cb.1212 Manu of the homeless who have mean go to warmer climate. And by having means oftentimes is somebody was kind enough to but them a bus ticket. I'm living in Florida. We have homeless guy who hangs around ware I work. He's 1 thoes people who well He's not so far mentally gone that he ramberls totally utter nonsense however when you engage with him you catch on to the fact he's not quite together mentally either. He's behaved. But anyway what I gather he was bought a bus ticket by somebody in Minnesota. Somebody bought him a bus bus ticket and gave him $50.

[@carlgharis7948]

I do have to question why would you want to open up an antique shop in a place like that?

[@deloreanman14]

As somebody who lives in a city (Portland) that has looked like this for years, I can tell you that what you're seeing is mostly people who want to live on the streets. They have no ambitions except getting their next drug fix, stealing what they need to finance that high and eating just enough to stay alive. Sadly these people make it increasingly difficult for those who truly want and need help getting back on their feet to find the compassion and support they need. Fentanyl is the driving cause of these tent cities and places like Portland that have decriminalized drug possession are among the worst.

[@JenPlays87]

There something poetic about seeing a sign that says “You Are Amazing” with a entire row of tents in front of the building.

[@DataDiggerDon]

Ya amazing that they made such stupid choices in life that brought them to tent city. 🥺

[@wokeasf6048]

When we thought homeless ppl was crazy. Now we are all in it with them.

[@peternorthrup6274]

I don't understand. All you have to do is raise sales and property taxes enough to pay for proper housing and treatment centers. You want the problem gone you just don't want to pay for it.

[@weirdbeard1980]

I grew up in Seattle. Moved years ago and no desire to go back. It was nice when I was a kid but it's disgusting now. Unfortunately not uncommon in major west coast cities these days

[@JackCarlock56]

I live in Edmonds (grew up in Phoenix). Seattle has grown into such a stink hole I never go there anymore

[@weirdbeard1980]

@@JackCarlock56 my grandparents owned an arcade game and candy vending machine business when I was a kid and there warehouse was maybe a mile or so from the kingdome, in that industrial area south of the park. We would always park down there and walk to the games. I remember when I was a kid there was hardly ever a soul down there since we normally went to evening games. I went to a Hawks game about 5 years ago with my wife (first time I had been down there since the mid 00's) and it was unbelievable. Shitty, derelict campers and tents lined the streets and there was human shit on the sidewalks, dirty needles, wacked out bums. There was a guy that was so loaded, trying to walk down the sidewalk, his pants and underwear were pulled down to his knees and everyone going to the game had to walk by him. Kids, women, older people. It was a disgrace. I hate to say it but the liberals have destroyed these cities. Just throw money at it so you can sleep at night rather than getting people the mental health help and rehab programs so they can get their lives back.

[@JackCarlock56]

@@weirdbeard1980 Yep. All that stuff is still going on in that area. It breaks my heart too because Seattle was one of the coolest cities in North America. But what is breaking my heart is that all that crap you've described is now found in Ballard, in the International District, Capital Hill and in the area between the King Street Station and Smith Tower (just to name a few). The last Mariners games I want to were in 2019. Because of the 4th of July fireworks show, we couldn't walk to the closest light rail station so we ended up walking to the Pioneer Square Station. It was every bit as bad as you described the SoDo area. We resolved to never return to that area unless those people are moved out. What burns my ass - beside the destruction of a once great city, is that I that i must put myself in jeopardy when going to ballgames. I am not allowed to carry my sidearm into T-Mobile Park, and neither the Mariners nor the City/County/State will install gun safes (they look like those multiple family mailboxes you see in subdivisions) at the ballpark so I can carry then lock up my sidearm. And as much as I love the Mariners I will not allow myself to injured or killed to watch them play. Good luck to you wherever you live now and wherever you go.

[@ralphjohnson3202]

Lived in Arizona for 8 years now unfortunately reside in Seattle this place is a dump looking at moving back to Phoenix Seattle sucks hate this place with a passion.

[@JackCarlock56]

@@ralphjohnson3202 I am leaving after I retire next year.